Colorado got exactly the kind of finishing play it needed on Sept. 3, and Boo Carter was the one who delivered it.
With Georgia Tech in position to steal the game, Carter flew in and blocked the field goal attempt, preserving Colorado’s 14-13 road win. The stop came with three seconds left, both teams out of timeouts, and it slammed the door after Julian "JuJu" Williams had just put the Buffaloes in front with a 20-yard touchdown pass to tight end Charlie Williams.
After the game, Carter explained that the moment felt familiar.
"It wasn't my first one. I did one [field goal block] in practice before."
"So it's just like mental prep. And I had to dive for the second one because the first one I tipped it.
"It was perfect timing. My coach gave me a little method on how to perfect jump it. So I had to get off fast and do the rest," Carter said.
Carter’s block gave Colorado its second road win under coach Deion Sanders since 2024 against Texas Tech, and the cornerback said the feeling of leaving with a win mattered.
"Going back with a win just feels good, to be honest."
Colorado’s defense leaned into a simple edge all night, and Carter said the message was clear.
"Just being violent [became key]. That's like our main word. Like what the coaches say, be violent."
"So we were being aggressive and doing our job. The line was getting in their gaps, the linebackers were running to the ball. We just rallied to the ball."
The Buffaloes’ front got plenty of help. Lamont Lester Jr. put together a career-best night with three solo sacks, while Toby Anene added five tackles. Lester came to Colorado after playing at Monmouth, and Anene arrived after starring at North Dakota State before its 2026 move to the Mountain West Conference.
Carter was quick to credit the work around him.
"It was pretty impressive. I mean, I wouldn't say that I was shocked.
The whole defensive line is a good little group. They rotate and they rotate good."
"They made a lot of plays in the spring and in the fall camp. So it was pretty good to see them do it in a real game."
He also pointed to the influence of Lester.
"It's pretty awesome. Just to learn from the best and try to make my game just like his, but a little better."
"It's motivating from the start. He talked to me from the beginning to the end. So he's got my back and I got his."
"So he put the word out there for me anyway early. So I had to step up my game."
Carter’s impact went beyond the final block. He also recovered a fumble during the game, and he helped force an early deep incompletion by staying glued in coverage on a play that would have gone for a Georgia Tech touchdown if he had been out of position.
He wasn’t heavily targeted through the air and finished with just one solo tackle, but Colorado still got the play that mattered most: Carter closing out the opener with the kind of moment that flips a game on its head.
In Other News...
Colorado Defense May Have Found An Immediate Difference Maker
Colorados defense got an early jolt from a newcomer against Georgia Tech, and Lamont Lester Jr. was right in the middle of it. The transfer turned in a disruptive outing with three sacks, including a third-quarter takedown that snuffed out a drive and gave the Buffaloes a much-needed playmaker off the edge.
Lester had already hinted at the mindset behind his rise in a prior podcast interview, describing himself as relentless and focused on dominating while constantly improving. He pointed to the development he got from his position coach at Monmouth and stressed confidence and preparation as the foundation of his success, which makes his immediate impact in Boulder feel less like a surprise than the next step in a player who believes he is built for it. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Tech Opener Got Extra Heat From An Unexpected Colorado Twist
Shedeur Sanders was back around Colorado football for the season opener at Bobby Dodd Stadium, and his presence added a familiar layer to a game already slowed by a weather delay. The former Buffaloes quarterback, now with the Cleveland Browns, has left a real mark on the program after setting school records and steering Colorado to a bowl game last season, so his return naturally drew attention as the Buffaloes settled in with new starting quarterback Julian Lewis.
Lewis had a rough opening stretch, with ball handling and passing issues showing up during the first three quarters while Colorado tried to find a rhythm. With Sanders watching from the stands, every snap seemed to carry a little extra weight, and the opener took on the feel of more than just a new season starting. For Colorado, it was a reminder of how quickly the quarterback spotlight can shift, and how much the old one still lingers. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Escaped Georgia Tech But Buffs Fans Still Have One Big Debate
Colorados season opener had the kind of finish that can shape a fan bases mood for days. The Buffs edged Georgia Tech 14-13 in a tense game that came down to the final snap, with the offense having to answer in the closing minutes and the defense needing one last stand to keep the win from slipping away.
Julian Lewis helped steady the moment with the late touchdown drive, and the victory gave Colorado plenty to feel good about beyond the final score. Even so, the conversation around the program now has a familiar edge to it: the kind of debate that comes after a narrow escape, when one play can be praised, questioned, and replayed from every angle long after the crowd leaves the stadium. [Read more 🡒]